Game-counter.



' No. 852,758. PATBNTBD MAY 7, 1907.

G. H. BARKER.

GAME COUNTER.

APILIGATION FILED APR. 30, 1904.

GEORGE H. BAKKER, OE PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

GAME-COUNTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed April 30,1904. Serial No. 205,797.

To 1 /ZZ whom, it 10i/Cty concern.'

Beit known that I, GEORGE II. BARKER., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game- Counters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved counter or indicator for counting or indicating consecutive or accumulative points, plays, scores or games accumulated or added in separate units or in groups of units indicated in a single sum or total.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I employ a series of counters movably mounted upon a suitable frame or other support but non-detachable therefrom, thereby avoiding the separation of the counters 'from the support, their loss and the consequent annoyance resulting therefrom. It has been attempted to secure the last mentioned object in Cribbage boards by providing pins or pegs which cannot be removed from the sockets or holes. I secure the object desired in an improved manner by providing counters which cannot be separated from their supports and which are very readily manipulated and of such form and construction as to make the indication very plain and in which all of the counters can be returned to the normal or non-counting position rapidly.

In the embodiment of my invention, which is shown in the drawings a rectangular block or body is provided in its upper surface with channels, grooves or slots arranged parallel with each other and with the sides of the base or body and pivotally mounted in such channels, grooves or slots, are movable counters, each operable independently of all the others, and preferably of such form that by passing the thumb or iinger over a series of counters they may all be moved or returned to the non-counting position. I may also construct and mount the individual counters that separate indications may be made by the exposure of different portions of the face of the counter, thus greatly increasing the range or capacity of the device. A

In the drawings Figure l .'s a plan view of one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation and Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the counters.

In the drawings A indicates a base or support of suitable material and provided preferably at its upper surface with recesses or pockets a to receive the counters B. These recesses or pockets and the counters mounted therein may be arranged in any desired manner, but as shown, are arranged in rows or series both longitudinally and transversely of the board. These series may be subdivided longitudinally of the board into sections, each section representing a grouping of units. Each of the counters is preferably in the form of a pivoted block, triangular in cross section, the pivot being indicated at b. The aperture or socket in which the counter is pivoted is of such form and width and the counter itself of such shape that the corner or edge of the latter protrudes above the surface of the base or board. (lne of the individual counters is shown in Fig. in. Each said counter preferably has two counting faces, each of said faces being of a distinctive color and also carrying a number or mark. The relative diameters of the counter and of the socket or pocket in which it rests are such that the counter may be rotated to eX- pose either of the two faces to view, the margin of the opening being such, however, as to prevent complete rotation of the counter within its seat or socket. The pivot is also so disposed as to cause the projecting edge or corner of the counter to rest on the margin of the opening` by gravity so that it will ree tain any position in which it may be placed.

Assuming the surface of the board to be covered by the counters arranged as described, the play/*er may indicate the points made by moving one or more of the counters into counting position. rI`hus, commencing at the upper left-han d corner of the board, the player might indicate by the turning of three of theI counters the making of three points in one play of a game and in the next play carry out the count by moving an additional number of counters corresponding to the points made, or instead of turning all of the individual counters representing the units points made he might pass from the last score to the second score, turning up the counter representing the total number of points, thus preserving a record of individual plays as well as total. This game counter may, of course, be used for keeping the score of almost any game and the details of the count in the same way as they may be kept upon the counter for cribbage or other game. Aside from the simplicity of the device and its ease of operation, an important feature of ICC IIO

the invention consists in the provision whereby the counters7 while readily moved, are not capable of being detached or misplaced and the 'facility with which they may be restored en masse to normal position.

The several longitudinal rows of counters are divided into sections oi groiups as shown in Fig. l to facilitate counting and one or both ends of the board may be provided with counters arranged in transverse rows, their pivots being at right angles to the pivots ol the counters in the longitudinal rows. These pivots may be conveniently provided by a single wire or rod extending across the board from side to side and passing through suitable apertures in the transverse rows of counters. The form of block ailords a cheap and convenient method of assembling the counters and admits of various kinds oilz linish, orna mentation and the like, but the principle of the invention may be embodied in a wide variety of structures within the scope of the i mechanic and do not require particular suggestion or exeinplilication.

I claim:

1. A game counter comprising a body provided with a plurality of pockets arranged in a row, each of said pockets being open only at l row, each oli said counters being provided with two counting faces and movable to expose either face through the opening of the pocket, whereby some or all the counters may be manipulated in the saine direction by sweeping the linger longitudinally of and o ver a part or the whole length ot the row, substantially as described.

2, A game couiitei comprising a body provided with a plurality of pockets arrai'iged` in longitudinal and transverse rows, each of said. pockets being open only at the top, and a plurality of triangular counters pivotally mounted in said pockets on axes which are in alineineiit relatively to the transverse rows and parallel relatively to the longitudinal rows, each o'li said counters being provided with two counting faces and movable to expose either face through the opening ol the pocket at the saine time concealing the other face, substantially as described.

GEORGE Il. BAKKER.

Vitiiesses JAMEs T. KiLLnnrn, ABRAHAM Lirsiir. 

